Category Archives: Young Adult

January 29, 2014 · 9:02 pm

Healer Series in Mini-Reviews

Scent of MagicTitle: Scent of Magic
Author: Maria V. Snyder
Source: Amazon
Rating: ★★★★☆

Like Touch of Power, this book clearly exhibited the superb writing I’ve come to expect from Maria V. Snyder. Even better, she completely fixed the pacing issue I had with the first one. Instead of dragging at the beginning, this book started off fast. The author kept the tension and excitement high with the introduction of a second viewpoint. Strategic chapter breaks kept me constantly wondering what would happen next. The world building of the last book was expanded on in new and clever ways, always staying internally consistent. I was more engaged in this book than the previous one and loved every minute of it. Continue reading →

6 Comments

Filed under Fantasy, Fiction, Young Adult

· 8:47 pm

Touch of Power

Touch of PowerTitle: Touch of Power
Author: Maria V. Snyder
Source: library
Rating: ★★★☆☆
Review Summary: Although this dragged a bit for me, the writing was practically perfect and the world building was fascinating.

Avry is the last of the healers. After a plague the healers couldn’t cure decimated the Fifteen Territories, all of the healers were hunted down and killed. On the run, Avry is eventually captured by a band of men who, surprisingly, value her healing skills over the bounty for turning her in. Unfortunately, they want her to heal the man Avry blames for the healer’s demise. The decision she has to make is a tough one, since he might also be her land’s best chance at peace. Continue reading →

3 Comments

Filed under Fantasy, Fiction, Young Adult

Tagged as , , , , , maria v snyder, touch of power, ,

January 27, 2014 · 9:08 pm

Defy

17406847Title: Defy
Author: Sara B. Larson
Source: from publisher for review
Rating: ★★★☆☆
Review Summary: The author included all the things I love in YA fantasy – gripping action, relatable protagonist, fascinating world-building – but she lost me with the annoying love triangle and pointlessly unhappy ending.

Only by disguising herself as a boy is Alexa safe from a fate worse than death. Fortunately, her impressive fighting skills quickly earn her a place in the elite prince’s guard. In that position, she’ll have to decide where her loyalties lie, with her prince or her kingdom. Her decision will influence the fate of her world. Also, there is a love triangle. Continue reading →

6 Comments

Filed under Fantasy, Fiction, Young Adult

Tagged as , , epic, , , love triangle, , ,

December 21, 2013 · 8:06 am

Soundbites About Divergent

17466044Title: Divergent
Author: Veronica Roth
Narrators: Emma Galvin
Rating (Story): ★★☆☆☆
Rating (Narration):★★★★★

In the world of Divergent, society is divided into five factions, each of which prize a particular virtue (intelligence, bravery, etc.). At age 16, children must choose which faction to belong to and changing factions means leaving all friends and family behind. Tris’s choice to leave the selfless faction for Dauntless is brutally hard and she has a secret to hide which will make things even harder. Continue reading →

12 Comments

Filed under Dystopian, Fiction, Young Adult

Tagged as , , , , , dystopian, ,

November 23, 2013 · 5:14 pm

Into The Fire

17281667Title: Into The Fire
Author:  Lindsey Fairleigh and Lindsey Pogue
Source: from publisher for review
Rating: ★★★★★
Review Summary: I loved the world building, believable characters, and constant action. This is shaping up to be a great series!

Into The Fire is the sequel to After The Ending (which is currently on sale on amazon for only $.99 by the way!) and picks up right where the previous book left off. The world has basically come to a halt due to a virus and two friends, Dani and Zoe, are trying to survive with everything changing. Strange new abilities, people gone mad, and crazy government conspiracies are just a few of the exciting elements of this great series.
Continue reading →

7 Comments

Filed under Dystopian, Fiction, Young Adult

Tagged as , , dystopia, , future, good science, ,

November 15, 2013 · 8:20 pm

The Dream Thieves

17347389Title: The Dream Thieves
Author: Maggie Stiefvater
Source: bought at Oblong Books/from publisher for review
Rating: ★★★★★
Review Summary: Amazing! Included everything I love about Maggie’s writing- well-rounded characters; believable relationship development; writing that can be beautiful or hilarious; and an epic ending.

The Dream Thieves is the sequel to The Raven Boys. It continues the story of Blue and the boy who is her true love, but who will die if she kisses him. The focus of the book, however, is on one of the other boys. Ronan is a complete punk at first glance, but there’s more to him than meets the eye. Not only can he be nicer than you might expect, he also the ability to dream things into reality. And some very bad people would love to make use of that ability if they find out who he is… Continue reading →

12 Comments

Filed under Fantasy, Fiction, Magical Realism, Young Adult

Tagged as , , , , , Maggie Stiefvater, , myth, sequels, ,

November 1, 2013 · 6:00 am

Hollow’s End

18478892Title: Hollow’s End
Author: Marianne Morea
Source: from publisher for review
Rating: ★★★★★
Review Summary: This book had some of the most believable YA characters I’ve encountered and with a new ending the author wrote, I loved it.

Hollow’s End is inspired by both the legend of Sleepy Hollow and the history of the town where the legend is set. Events from the Revolutionary War  pitted the town’s inhabitants against each other, leaving lingering animosity that leads to paranormal activities as Halloween approaches. Although Rowen is from a family of witches, she’s never wanted to do anything with such things. Unfortunately, her relationships and her powers leave her little choice but to deal with visions sparked by ancestors of the towns current inhabitants… Continue reading →

8 Comments

Filed under Fiction, Gothic, Romance, Urban Fantasy, Young Adult

Tagged as , , , , , , , , ,

October 24, 2013 · 11:01 pm

Finnikin of the Rock

4932435Title: Finnikin of the Rock
Author: Melina Marchetta
Source: library
Rating: ★★★★☆
Review Summary: It has all the elements a great epic fantasy should have without feeling cliched and the characters are impressively well developed.

Ten years ago the entire royal family of Lumatere was slain and the kingdom fell under a curse. Surrounded by an impenetrable magic barrier, half of her people remain trapped inside with an evil king and half wander the land outside as exiles. On the outside, Finnikin and his guardian Sir Topher have struggled to find a home for the Lumateren exiles, but when they meet an exile named Evanjalin who claims the heir to the throne is alive, they have to consider the possibility that they have a hope of returning home. Continue reading →

6 Comments

Filed under Fantasy, Fiction, Young Adult

Tagged as , , , , , , , , ,

September 20, 2013 · 6:30 am

The Woodlands

The-Woodlands-CoverTitle: The Woodlands
Author: Lauren Nicolle Taylor
Source: from publisher for Juniper Grove book tour
Rating: ★★★☆☆
Review Summary: Although it includes many cliched dystopian elements, this book has a flavor all it’s own and gets lots of points for avoiding the more annoying cliches.

The dictatorial rulers of The Woodlands, known as The Superiors, believe that diversity is the enemy of peace. Disobedience is punished swiftly and violently. Day by day The Superiors are usurping more control over the lives of the citizens, dictating the careers they can have; how many children they are allowed; and who they can marry. Rosa has always been different and her uniqueness will eventually land her in trouble she might not be able to get out of.

Continue reading →

1 Comment

Filed under Dystopian, Fiction, Young Adult

Tagged as , , , dystopian, , indie, , , YA fiction

September 1, 2013 · 8:45 am

Soundbites About The Scorpio Races

10858437Title: The Scorpio Races
Author: Maggie Stiefvater
Narrators: Fiona Hardingham, Steve West
Rating (Story): ★★★★★
Rating (Narration):★★★★☆

It happens at the start of every November: the Scorpio Races. Riders attempt to keep hold of their water horses long enough to make it to the finish line. Some riders live. Others die. At age nineteen, Sean Kendrick is the returning champion. He is a young man of few words, and if he has any fears, he keeps them buried deep, where no one else can see them. Puck Connolly is different. She never meant to ride in the Scorpio Races. But fate hasn’t given her much of a chance. So she enters the competition — the first girl ever to do so. She is in no way prepared for what is going to happen. (synopsis from goodreads). Continue reading →

3 Comments

Filed under Fantasy, Fiction, Soundbites, Young Adult

Tagged as audiobook, , , , , , ,